‘Beautiful soul’ my greatest inspiration

Caitlin Thompson

Opinion

At his funeral on Monday, Norman Maclean was described by Phillip Andrew as “a beautiful soul”. Many words could be used to describe Norm, but those three summed him up perfectly. His soul was wholesome, warm, and welcoming. As Clayton Gibson explained, Norm always reached out to meet the souls of others. Precisely this set him apart from other people, and certainly any teacher I have ever encountered.

Phillip and Clayton, both students of Norm, regaled with memories of his classroom and the connections he fostered with students. They talked about how “it was because of Norm” they felt listened to, they felt intellectually challenged yet safe, and they were provided with the skills they needed to tackle life. Their stories exemplified Norm’s zest, saying he “always talked of possibilities”, and illustrated how inspirational he was to his students.

I, also a student of Norman Maclean, watched his funeral from my house in Dunedin wishing more than anything I could’ve been home to farewell the man who is undoubtedly my greatest inspiration.

For the first decade of my education, I felt under-stimulated, underwhelmed, and uninterested. I was bored with the subjects offered. I pushed at Campion College’s administration until I was finally granted permission to take Classics with Mr Maclean. Following the first lesson, my outlook on life and education changed. He ignited, inspired, and fostered within me a deep passion for knowledge and learning, an immense enthusiasm and drive to see the world for myself, and for the first time I was being challenged academically. That year I won “First in Class Level Two Classical Studies”, despite only being Level One, and that cemented everything. I felt seen, supported, and I finally felt capable.

Since then, I have travelled extensively, lived abroad, completed multiple tertiary qualifications, and am extremely privileged to teach at the University of Otago. Norm was the person who placed me firmly on this path. I wouldn’t be where I am today without his presence in my life.

Beyond school Norm became my friend (although the transition from “Sir” to “Norm” was odd!). Whenever I visited home, he made time for me. He welcomed me into his abode to talk for hours. He visited me and my grandparents, often staying for dinner or a cup of tea. And when inspiration struck, I would email him. I once emailed from Plovdiv, Bulgaria to say I attended an Opera at Philippopolis, a Roman theatre built by Emperor Trajan. The email read: “I felt I needed to tell you how speechless and excited I was to enjoy the theatre!”

Other times, I would email to remind him how much of an inspiration he was to me. He would humbly reply, saying such comments were “much appreciated . . . though not sure they’re quite so well deserved”. However, I am sure Norm’s students would all agree he deserved such praise.

Norman Maclean was my greatest inspiration, the person who encouraged me most, and the one who helped me find my feet. He was one of my biggest supporters, my mentor, and my friend. For all of it, I wish to say: “Thank you, Sir. It was a privilege to have you in my life.”

To quote Clayton again, Norman Maclean was a proud and fruitful olive tree, and we, his students, are the olives that fell from and grew from him.

So, tomorrow I will plant an olive tree in my garden with great fondness and in loving memory of Norman Maclean — a man I truly believe is one of the most incredible people to have ever humbled the Earth with his existence.